Jarrod Saltalamacchia Rumors

Rangers Notes: Vizquel, Byrd, Rodriguez

MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan examined what some of the Rangers' plans might be this winter, and here are some of the highlights... A right-handed bat is at the top of the Texas wish list for the off-season, with Sullivan singling out Jermaine Dye as perhaps the best fit for the Rangers amongst the veteran hitters on the free agent market. There is a good chance that veteran shortstop Omar Vizquel will re-sign with Texas before the club's exclusive negotiating period for free agents ends on November 19. Sullivan reports that "there appears to be genuine interest on both sides" to bring...   Continue Reading

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Discussion: What Should The Rangers Do With All Their Catchers?

The Texas Rangers have an embarrassment of riches behind the plate, with Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Taylor Teagarden and Max Ramirez all checking in at age 25 or younger. Saltalamacchia has received the most playing time at the big league level this year, hitting .255-.307-.411 in 153 plate appearances, but Teagarden has put up a more than respectable .347 OBP in 49 PA as Salty's backup. Ramirez is stashed away in Triple-A after putting up a .217-.345-.370 line in 55 PA last year. With the team currently sporting a 4.5 game lead in the AL West and young catching always in demand,...   Continue Reading

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Odds And Ends: Red Sox, Oswalt, Angels

Links to start the week off... Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe suggests a few ways of improving the Red Sox. He says acquiring a catcher like Victor Martinez or Jarrod Saltalamacchia would set the team up for this year and beyond. Think the Tigers are happy they parted with Matt Joyce to acquire Edwin Jackson? Aubrey Huff told the Detroit Free Press that Jackson and Justin Verlander are the best back-to-back starters he's seen in his nine-year career. ESPN.com's Amy Nelson says (via Twitter) that Roy Oswalt's open to being traded but would like to remain in the NL....   Continue Reading

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Sheffield, Rays, Red Sox, Yankees

On this date 43 years ago, Tom Seaver signed with the Mets for a $50K signing bonus. Seaver originally agreed to a deal with the Braves, but the contract was voided due to Seaver's status as an amateur at USC. After being ruled ineligible at USC, and the Braves were forbidden from signing Seaver, any team willing to match the original $50K signing bonus were included in a lottery for the rights to the future hall-of-famer. The Phillies, Indians and Mets literally had their names placed in a cap and the Mets were selected. The regular season is only days...   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal On Jeter, Jenkins, Keppinger

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports posted a new column last night. Rosenthal wonders if the eventual emergence of Yankees shortstop prospects Ramiro Pena and Eduardo Nunez will prompt the team to ask Derek Jeter to change positions in the future. Neither player ranked among the Yankees' top 30 prospects in the Baseball America 2009 Handbook, however. Jeter's current contract runs through 2010. Rosenthal says Boston's talks for catchers Miguel Montero and Jarrod Saltalamacchia "remain stalled because of those clubs' respective asking prices." Rosenthal believes the Phillies are unlikely to trade Geoff Jenkins or Matt Stairs. The Reds are considering trading...   Continue Reading

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Heyman On Bargains, Andruw, Buchholz

The latest from SI.com's Jon Heyman... Heyman runs through his top 13 free agent bargains, beginning with Orlando Cabrera, Bobby Abreu, and Jon Garland. Andruw Jones will decide next week whether to opt out and become a free agent again. Heyman reminds us that the Yankees, Braves, and Phillies were previously interested. He says a Yankees person "hedged" when asked if they'd rejoin the Jones pursuit. The Twins sent a scout to watch Ivan Rodriguez before he signed with Houston, but Heyman figures they must be confident about Joe Mauer's back after standing pat. The Red Sox "remain uninterested in...   Continue Reading

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Rangers Sign 16 Players

The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Rangers have signed 16 players to 2009 contracts. These players include Scott Feldman and Matt Harrison, who are both expected to make the Rangers starting rotation. Position players include catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and right fielder Nelson Cruz. Here's a list of the others: Pitchers - Josh Rupe, John Bannister, Tommy Hunter, Luis Mendoza, Dustin Nippert, Omar Proveda, Kason Gabbard Position Players - Joaquin Arias, Jose Vallejo, Brandon Boggs, David Murphy, and Greg Golson The Rangers have yet to sign Josh Hamilton, Taylor Teagarden, and nine others.   Continue Reading

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Salty, Teagarden Likely To Remain Rangers

Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram notes that the signing of Jason Varitek "should end any more talk of Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Taylor Teagarden being traded to Boston." Saltalamacchia will head into spring training atop the Rangers' catching depth chart, but Teagarden can win himself consideration with a strong showing in camp. Salty, 23, hit .253 last season with three home runs and 26 RBI in 198 at-bats. Teagarden, 25, batted .319 with six dingers and 17 RBI in 47 at-bats during a short time with the big league club.   Continue Reading

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Jason Varitek Rumors: Thursday

7:58pm: Alex Speier of WEEI provides us with a Varitek-relevant quote from Curt Schilling's appearance on the Big Show: “I’ve talked with Jason a couple different times about this. I think there’s probably some discussion going on around the parameters of a deal since it was put on the table. In fact, I know there (has been). I think you’re going to end up with a deal that nets Jason the $10 million over two years, somehow guaranteed or tied into some incentives, that keeps him here, or I think he might end up taking the one-year deal. I’m not...   Continue Reading

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Cafardo's Latest: Crede, Gagne, Rangers, Brewers

Some quick notes from Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe: The Twins and Giants will be monitoring Joe Crede's workouts in Arizona next week. Both teams have had ongoing interest this month. The Twins and Rangers are continuing to seriously consider Eric Gagne. Cafardo notes the growing sentiment among middle-market teams that patience could land an all star caliber player for a "low-risk one-year deal." Milwaukee would prefer to save and make a "Sabathia-like" deadline deal rather than spend now. Adam Melhuse signing with Texas could be a signal that Taylor Teagarden or Jarrod Saltalamacchia are en route to the...   Continue Reading

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